Service update: adapting how we regulate

Processing UK and readmission applications is a priority for us. We will strive to achieve our normal processing times, however, we are subject to limited access to incoming post, so please bear with us.

We are adapting our ways of working and as such are allowing applications for registration to be sent to us by email.

Please read the guidance very carefully before sending us your application and take note of the new information included in the application download pack. See here for more information on applying to the Register. 

We are working hard to achieve our normal processing times. However, we are subject to limited access to incoming post and this will affect those times. Incoming applications may be subject to delay and we will advise applicants accordingly.

Registrants will understandably be concerned about how they can keep up to date with CPD or have time to submit profiles if chosen for audit at this time.

Individuals should comply with their CPD obligations, where time allows and if it is possible to do so. You can find more information as well as tips for completing your audit here.

If you have any questions around the CPD audit process, please email cpdprofiles@hcpc-uk.org.

We will continue with our planned renewal timelines, but with extra flexibility understanding the pressures our registrants will be under.

We have extended the renewal deadlines for the following professions: 

• Art Therapists: deadline now extended to 30 June 2020
• Dietitians: deadline now extended to 31 July 2020
• Chiropodists / podiatrists: deadline now extended to 31 August 2020 
• Hearing aid dispensers: deadline now extended to 31 August 2020

We have also written to those select registrants to confirm this in writing.

More information on how to renew can be found here.

You are welcome to contact our Registration team by email to discuss any aspect of your registration. We encourage email as the best way of getting a full response, however more contact options are available on the Registration team's contact page.

We will continue to receive and promptly triage any concerns made via our website, ensuring interim orders are put in place to protect the public if needed.

Given many registrants will be working in challenging circumstances, context will be taken into account in this process.

We will continue with this activity without a public meeting. We will be in contact with all parties.

This will continue as usual, although there may be some delays as we manage with a reduced staff.

We will continue with these and will be in contact with all parties.

We have had to postpone a number of scheduled final hearings, following UK government advice to work from home and restrict all but essential travel and social contact.

We are able to conduct some final hearings remotely, where suitable, using virtual meeting methods.

To ensure service-user safety we will be prioritising the consideration of all interim order activity and the review of existing sanctions.

We will be in direct contact with any Registrants where this applies.

You are welcome to contact our Fitness to Practise team by email with enquiries about cases. We are continuing to respond to postal enquiries and updates on cases but we are subject to limited access to incoming post, so please bear with us in the event of any delays. More details are on the Fitness to Practice team's contact page.

We appreciate going through this process can be an anxious experience and any delays can add to this.

Please be assured that we will do everything we can to progress cases given the exceptional circumstances.

If you require any support please see out list of contacts who may be able to assist https://www.hcpts-uk.org/participant-information/useful-contacts-and-support/ 

We have decided to not run physical approval events until at least January 2021. We have contacted education providers offering them the option to postpone their scheduled visit or proceed with a virtual event.

We are conscious that education providers will also be managing with less staff through the pandemic. We are happy to be flexible if more time is needed to make annual monitoring submissions.

We ask that education providers do not telephone us at this time, but instead email our team at education@hcpc-uk.org. We will get back to providers as soon as we are able.

We will postpone our advertised My Standards events and CPD workshops, but ensure there are online alternatives.

Once details are finalised we will be in touch with all those who expressed an interest in attending.